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Press Release - One member of the New People's Army rebels rescued by troops of the Philippine Army after last Sunday's clash in the boundary of Lupon, Davao Oriental and Brgy. Las Arenas in Pantukan, Compostela Valley has been treated for his wounds at the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center (DOPMC).

28-year-old Randy (not his real name) obtained a gunshot wound on his left knee. He was rescued a day after the encounter by troops of the 28th Infantry Battalion after he was abandoned by his comrades.

Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, who personally visited him at the DOPMC this evening, assured that the Provincial Government will take care of his hospitalization and will committed to also facilitate his processing and turn-over to the proper authorities.

Governor Dayanghirang further assured that the Provincial Government will welcome with open arms the members of the NPA who desire to surrender to the government.

Joining the Governor during his visit are 28th IB Commander Lt. Col. Miguel Ramon, Provincial Administrator Art Benjie Bulaong, and officers of the 701st Brigade and the Philippine National Police.

(In-depth story on this topic will be posted later) by @Karen Lou Deloso, PIO Davao Oriental

BACOLOD CITY -- Troopers of the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion recovered copies of the extortion letter being sent by the New People’s Army (NPA) to construction companies in Negros Island.

These were among the items seized by the soldiers following their encounter with a group of communist rebels at Sitio Bunga, Barangay Salong in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental late Tuesday afternoon.

A copy of the letter provided by the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB) showed it has the letterhead of the NPA’s Apolinario Gatmaitan Command based in Negros Island. Dated March 12, 2019, the letter was allegedly signed by Armando Magbanua of the Regional Taxation Group.

Col. Benedict Arevalo, commander of 303IB, said on Wednesday the recovery of the extortion letters shows that the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front is indeed an extortionist terrorist organization.

“The regular NPA rebels do the difficult and dirty work in the countryside while their leaders and political officers are enjoying the fruits of their extortion activities, living luxuriously and comfortably in the cities,” Arevalo added.

Part of the extortion letter states the NPA’s so-called People’s Democratic Government (PDG) “exercises its right to impose taxes on properties, business operations, and revenues, among others within its territory.”

“Adherence to revolutionary taxation has corresponding privileges and concessions set by the PDG. Resources collected from revolutionary taxes augment the funds of the PDG intended for its social services and other programs of the revolutionary government,” it added.

Also, the letter includes a threat of “enforced sanctions detrimental to (the) business operation” if the recipient will not “discuss and settle” their supposed “tax obligations.”

Col. Noel Detoyato, public affairs office chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, earlier said the burning spree of heavy equipment perpetrated by the Communist Party of the Philippine -New People's Army is meant to continue with their terrorism plans and to pressure the companies to give in to their extortion demands. (PNA)

By PNAMALAYBALAY CITY--New People's Army (NPA) rebels attacked a pineapple plantation in the Bukidnon town of Don Carlos and burned a harvesting equipment on Thursday, the Army said.

In a statement released by the Army's 403rd Brigade on Friday, an unspecified number of armed men raided the plantation area of Davao Agriculture Ventures Company Inc. (DAVCO) in Brgy. San Nicolas at around 8 p.m.

The armed men "threatened the workers and announced that they are NPA members," the Army statement said, adding the group disarmed the lone security guard and seized the latter's cellphone.

"Without warning, they poured gasoline and burned a Camico 633 (pineapple harvesting equipment). The workers who were terrified cannot do anything but ran for their safety for fear of being killed," it added.

The rebels also burned a backhoe and fled toward the direction of the neighboring Maramag town, the Army said.

Col. Edgardo de Leon, commander of the 403rd Brigade, decried the rebels' attack "against civilian properties," while noting that the destroyed properties had nothing to do with the military's operations.

"We will be submitting a report to CHR-10 (Commission on Human Rights-Northern Mindanao) and request them to investigate if the actions of the NPAs violate IHL (International Humanitarian Law," de Leon added.

NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. (PNA)

MANILA -- The Sandiganbayan has junked the criminal cases against a former municipal mayor of Bohol province for issuing cockfighting permits, which were allegedly used for unauthorized purposes.

The anti-graft court's 3rd Division, in a resolution dated March 8, granted the prosecution's manifestation with motion to withdraw the cases dated Oct. 10, 2018 against former Mabini mayor Esther Fostanes-Tabigue for being meritorious.

“Accordingly, the information in criminal cases no. SB-17-CRM-1584-1591 are considered withdrawn,” the Sandiganbayan said.

The Sandiganbayan noted that the finding of probable cause against Tabigue was anchored on an error of fact and law.

“The resolution on which the information was based proceeded under the assumption that the cockfights subject of the instant case were staged by virtue and under the authority of the mayor's permits issued by accused Tabigue. This, however, was an erroneous assumption,” it said.

It added that the mayor's permits issued by Tabigue merely acknowledged that the cockfights would be held "as part of... barangay fiesta celebration(s)" and not for "charitable purposes", as alleged in the information.

The court also noted that the charitable purposes were approved by the Sangguniang Bayan and the police provincial director and not by Tabigue.

“As far as accused Tabigue was concerned, she merely issued the mayor's permits, subject to compliance with laws and rules, on account of the barangay captain's representations that the cockfights would be part of fiesta activities,” it said.

The Sandiganbayan examined the permits issued by Tabigue dated Sept. 9, 2013; Nov. 13, 2013; Jan. 2, 2014; and Nov. 18, 2014, as well as the special permits issued by Bohol Police Director, Col. Dennis Agustin, on Sept. 23, 2013; Nov. 19, 2013; Jan. 3 2014; and Nov. 19, 2014 and their attachments, and found the claims of the prosecution panel meritorious.

“After a judicious evaluation of the evidence on record and a thorough consideration of the respective allegations of both parties, the Court finds merit in the prosecution's motion to withdraw the subject information,” the Sandiganbayan said.

“While some of the grounds cited by the prosecution may indeed be remedied by an amendment of the information, the Court notes that the Ombudsman has effectively re-examined and abandoned its very theory as to the alleged criminal liability of accused Tabigue,” it added.

Records show that the mayor's permit issued on Sept. 19, 2013 was granted to Chairman Ruben Maglana of Barangay Lungsodaan, Mabini, Bohol to hold cockfights as part of their barangay fiesta celebration on Sept. 26-27, 2013 in Purok 5, Lungsodaan. (PNA)

Press Releasde COAST GUARD - On March 15, 2019, a marine mammal, initially identified to be a Cuvier's Beaked Whale (15.4 feet long and max. 7 feet wide), was found to be stranded along the coastline of Brgy. Cadunan, Mabini, Compostela Valley Province. The incident was reported immediately to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources XI through the combined efforts of Mr. Jaime Conson, former Regional Fisherfolk Director, Mrs. Amy Bama, LGU Technician, MDRRMC Personnel of Mabini, and the fisherfolk community. They attempted to release the whale three (3) times but it would returned to shallow water. The BFAR XI Stranding Team, FPLEG Personnel and PFO ComVal Personel assisted on site as it could not swim on its own, emaciated and weak. Upon initial observation, it was found out that there was a prominent back bone and peanut-shaped head area. Further, blood samples were collected and subjected to analysis and results showed that the animal was dehydrated.

On the 2nd day, the whale struggled and vomited blood and discharges brown liquid from its anus. Around 10:30 am on the 2nd day, the animal died. It was brought to the D'Bone Collector's Museum in Davao City. A team of personnel conducted necropsy examination, consisting of CFO Davao City staff, BFAR-FMRED Staff, Dr. Elaine Vera Belvis, DVM and Mr. Darel Blatchley, Director, D'Bone Collector's Museum. It was observed that all stomach compartments were full of foreign materials such as plastics of varying sizes and shapes, sacks, and among others. The presence of squid beaks was also observed. The stomach mucusa were also hemorrhagic. The presence of parasites in stomach and kidney areas were also observed. The BFAR XI team collected tissue samples for the scientific determination of other possible causes of death through a series of histophatologic tests.

Initial diagnosis of death is the INGESTION OF HUGE AMOUNT OF FOREIGN OBJECTS MOSTLY OF PLASTICS AND CELLOPHANE. This whale might have some couple of years more to live, but with the lack of awareness and concern for nature of some humans, its life ends with a tragic event. We must be responsible enough, not to harm these lovely creatures. They never harm us, and they never done bad things to us. The plastics we use, when being carried to oceans were mistakenly identified as food by some marine animals. When ingested, there is no way of digesting it. Instead, these may blocked air passages, causes starvation and eventually, the animal dies within a couple of days. This is a call to each one of us that we must be responsible enough for every single plastic we are using. Stranding events, where animals reach out for humans, is not only a call for help, it is also an awakening scream of animals, in their silence, that we share one world, one planet and one home. What we are doing now, might be the end of other's life. Unless we change, these creatures might vanished all of its kind, and only in books, in the future, might tell that for once they exist.One movie line said... "we've only got one world, let's share it in peace.." Let us live our lives with these creatures. We were made to guard them, not to destroy them...

Davao City (1 October 2009) -- The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XI has come up with its own Citizen's Charter distinctly expressing its way of delivering frontline services locally.

After a thorough discussion among the members of its Citizen's Charter Task Force, NEDA has identified two frontline services.

It has to provide technical assistance to provinces and highly urbanized cities on development planning, policy formulation, investment programming, project development, and project monitoring and evaluation.

It also has to evaluate project proposals, ranging from simple concept papers to full blown feasibility studies submitted by local government units, national government central and regional offices, the business sector and civil society for endorsement by the Regional Development Council (RDC).

NEDA's Citizen's Charter presentation starts off with its vision that expresses its public service commitment to constituents of the Davao Region.

Expressed in five paragraphs, its mission statement comes next that discusses its stakeholders, it's based area, its organizational values and its desired service-delivery impact at the regional level.

During the launching ceremony, Civil Service Commission (CSC) XI Assistant Regional Director Lilia Clamor cited NEDA XI as one of the few regional office of national government agencies that had had been allowed by their central offices to locally come up with their own Citizen's Charter.

Clamor said that regional offices of national line agencies are waiting for the crafting of the Citizen's Charter in their national offices.

All government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) including local government units are required to draw up their Citizen's Charter as mandated by Republic Act 9485 or An Act to Improve Efficiency in the Delivery of Government Service by Reducing Bureaucratic Red Tape, Preventing Graft and Corruption and Providing Penalties thereof. It is popularly known as Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.

RA 9485 defines Citizen's Charter as an official document, a service standard, or a pledge, that communicates, in simple terms, information on the services provided by the government to its citizens.

The Charter describes the step-by-step procedure for availing a particular service and the guaranteed performance level that clients may expect for that service.

RA 9485 puts particular focus on frontline services which refer to the process or transaction between clients and government offices or agencies involving applications for any privilege, right, permit, reward, license, concession, or for any modification, renewal or extension of the enumerated applications and or requests which are acted upon in the ordinary course of business of the office or agency concerned.

Other than the rule on Citizen's Charter, RA 9485 also provides for rules regarding the accountability of heads of offices and agencies, who according to the law, bear the primary responsibility to implement all other rules of the law and "shall be held accountable to the public in rendering fast, efficient, convenient and reliable service."

It also provides rules on accessing frontline services which should be rendered within five working days in response to requests involving simple transactions and 10 working day for those that take complex transaction. (PIA XI)

Davao City (1 October 2009) -- Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPACC) an international network of peacebuilders is offering to help the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Gus Miclat, the executive director of Davao-based Initiatives for International Dialogue, the designated Regional Initiatior for Southeast Asia of GPACC said that the network is willing to assist the International Contact Group (ICG) of the peace process.

ICG is composed of interested countries and international non-government organizations (NGOs) that aims to build a consensus that will sustain the interest of both the GRP and MILF and also to maintain a level of comfort aimed at restoring mutual trust of the two parties.

The GRP and the MILF both agreed to the formation of the ICG during their talks held in Kualau Lumpur, Malaysia last September 15.and is seen as an important step in restarting the stalled talks after the signing of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain or MOA-AD was scrapped which led to a resurgence of violence between the government and lawless MILF groups.

GPPAC is a world-wide civil society network that works to promote the importance of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Established in 2003 after then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in his 2001 report 'Prevention of Armed Conflict' urged NGOs involved conflict prevention to organize an international conference of local, national and international NGOs on their role in conflict prevention and future interaction with the United Nations in this field.

GPPAC is structured through fifteen regional networks, which are led by existing civil society network organizations working on conflict prevention and peacebuilding that believes in the idea of networking and cooperation.

IID is hosting the GPACC's International Steering Group (ISG) meeting this September 30 to October 7 at the Waterfront Insular hotel here in Davao City. (PIA XI)

La Trinidad, Benguet (31 October 2009) -- The Department of Science and Technology -Benguet Office formerly the Philippine Textile Research Institute Benguet Office assured that it will still maintain egg production for the rearing of silkworm even if it is no longer its mandate.

Dr. Arnold Inumpa, now Provincial Director of DOST-Benguet said that the then PTRI-Benguet Office was absorbed and reconstituted as DOST-Benguet last January in consonance with the rationalization program of the government. However, the PTRI Central Office in Manila including its old station in Mindanao is still operational.

Inumpa said their office still has to sustain egg production of silkworm due to the demand of farmers but breeding which entails research could no longer be undertaken by their office. He said their mandate now is to promote mature technology for feasible livelihood projects.

As there are no takers yet of the technology, Inumpa said the direction eventually will be the privatization of the production of silkworm eggs.

DOST-Benguet could still produce the regular production between 100 to 200 boxes per year, Inumpa stressed as there are two staff assigned to do the job. One box is equivalent to normally 20,000 eggs with a survival rate of 85 to 90 percent.

Of the total production, only one-fourth to one-third is being disposed, the rest are wasted according to Inumpa. These are purchased through the Fiber Industry and Development Authority (FIDA).

The costs of silkworm vary by silkworm stage but for the eggs it is charged at P200.00per box. Newly hatched or first in star costs P230.00 per box, 10 days old or third in star costs P250.00 per box. The six days old or second in star silkworms are not being sold.

Aside from Kapangan, Kibungan and Bakun are also focusing on sericulture industry, with funding from the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) amounting to P1.5 million each for the establishment of rearing houses. Some farmers in Sablan and Mankayan have also ventured in silkworm production. (PIA-Benguet)

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law that will make legal adoption of children simpler.

Duterte signed on Feb. 21 Republic Act 11222 or the “Simulated Birth Rectification Act,” according to a copy of the law obtained by ABS-CBN News.

Simulation of birth is defined under the law as the “tampering of the civil registry to make it appear in the record of birth that a child was born to a person who is not such child’s biological mother, causing the loss of the true identity and status of such child.”

The law allows the rectification of simulated birth of a child where the simulation was made “for the best interest of the child, and that such child has been consistently considered and treated by the person or persons who simulated such birth as her, his, or their own daughter or son.”

It also fixes the status and filiation of a child whose birth was simulated by giving such child all the benefits of adoption and ensuring that such child shall be entitled to all the rights provided by law to legally adopted children.

Those who simulated the birth record of a child prior to the law’s effectivity shall be exempt from criminal, civil, and administrative liability, provided that a petition for adoption with an application for the rectification of the simulated birth record is filed 10 years from the law’s effectivity.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), some 6,500 children are awaiting adoption.

To make adoption simpler and less costly, the law also allows administrative adoption proceeding if the child has been living with the adoptive parents for at least 3 years before the measure’s effectivity and the DSWD declared the child legally available for adoption.

According to the law, adopters must be a Filipino citizen, be of legal age, possess full civil capacity and legal rights, and be of good moral character.

They must also have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude, be emotionally and psychologically capable of caring for children, and be in a position to support and care for the child.

For married couples where one of the adopters is a foreign national married to a Filipino, the foreign national must have been residing in the Philippines for at least 3 consecutive years prior to the filing of the petition for adoption and application for rectification of simulated birth record.

The written consent of the adoptee is needed if he or she is 10 years old or over. The same is also needed from the “legitimate and adopted daughters and sons, 10 years old and above, of the adopter and adoptee, if any.”

Written consent is also required from the “illegitimate daughters and son, 10 years old and above, of the adopter if living with said adopter and the latter’s spouse, if any.”

The spouse of an adoptee, if any, is also required to file a written consent for the adoption process to start.

According to the law, the petition shall be supported by a copy of the simulated birth or foundling certificate of the child, affidavit of admission if the simulation of birth was done by a third person, a certification by the village chief attesting that the child has been living with the petitioner, and a certificate declaring the child legally available for adoption from the DSWD.

Also required are the affidavits of at least two disinterested persons who reside in the same barangay where the child resides, attesting that the child has been living with the petitioner for at least three years prior to the law’s effectivity.

Once the requirements are completed, the adopter shall file the petition with the city or town’s social welfare and development officer. The petition will pass through the regional director and then the secretary of the DSWD.

If the adoption petition is granted, the adoptee shall be considered the legitimate daughter or son of the adopter “for all intents and purposes and as such is entitled to all the rights and obligations provided by law to legitimate daughters or sons born to them without discrimination of any kind.”

“Except where a biological parent is the spouse of the adopter, all legal ties between the biological parents and the adoptee shall be severed and the same shall then be vested in the adopter,” the law reads.

Adoption may be rescinded if the adopter committed repeated physical or verbal maltreatment to the adoptee, made an attempt on the life of the adoptee, sexually assaulted the adoptee, or abandoned and failed to comply with parental obligations.

A petition for rescission of adoption may be filed by the adoptee with the assistance of the DSWD if he or she is a minor or over 18 years old but incapacitated.

If the petition for rescission is granted, the parental authority of the adoptee’s biological parents shall be restored if the adoptee is still a minor or incapacitated.

The law also penalizes with imprisonment ranging from 6 years and 1 day to 12 years, and/or a fine of no less than P200,000 those who obtain consent for an adoption through coercion, undue influence, fraud, improper inducement, or other similar acts.

Noncompliance with the procedures and safeguards provided by the law for adoption, as well as subjecting or exposing the child to be adopted to danger, abuse or exploitation are also punishable under the law. - Press Release

INQUIRER: In Asia-Pacific region, the Philippines is one of the countries with the most number of HIV/AIDS incidence. In 2018, PNAC cited that as many as 32 Filipinos have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS daily. With 62,024 cases recorded from January 1984 to December 2018, Department of Health has recognized the Philippines as “the country with the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in Asia and the Pacific.” In an effort to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and eradicate stigma, Procter & Gamble, which owns Vicks Vaporub, released a heartwarming video as part of their “Touch of Care” campaign. [pia-dr/jd] https://business.inquirer.net/266450/vicks-aims-to-raise-hiv-awareness-through-its-touch-of-care-campaign

In recognition for his continued service and excellence, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Alexander Balutan was given the Award for Continuing Excellence and Service (ACES) by Metrobank Foundation (MBFI).

Balutan recieved the prestigious award at the Le Pavillon, Roxas Blvd., EDSA, Pasay City on February 21.

“I feel proud and honored to be chosen as one of the ACES awardees,” said Balutan.

The recognition, which coincided with MBFI’s 40th founding anniversary, was given to past MBFI awardee who have continued to stand out in their respective fields after having been honored by the Foundation for their career service achievements.

In 2011, Balutan was one of The Outstanding Philippine Soldier (TOPS) awardees. A graduate of Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983 who earned the moniker “Mandirigma” (or warrior in English), the bemedalled major general has served the government as Marine commander to Bureau of Corrections chief and now the PCSO general manager.

Prior to his current position, Balutan was a Mindanao combat veteran whose nose for intelligence-gathering helped quell threats in conflict-plagued provinces like Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao.

Balutan spent more than 38 years of his adult life in the Marine Corps, two-thirds of it in the battlefronts, and has survived more than 50 combat encounters and four ambushes against the enemy of the state.

Looking back, Balutan credited his humble beginnings as what greatly shaped who he is today. He knows how to plant rice, sow corn and beans, herd carabao and other farm animals - where they get their livelihood and money to augment the meager salaries of their parents to support their education.

“My late father had said: ‘We are not capable’. That challenged and encouraged us to stand and fight our way in life. Up to now, I think about it. And this gave me the impetus to rise to any challenges life may bring. Due to my late father’s excellent parenting, all of us his children are now successful in life,” shared Balutan.

Balutan’s father, Alejandro, a World War II veteran and a Master sergeant at the Philippine Army, raised them in militarily, which influenced him and his younger brothers to enter the military and police service.

With that mindset to follow the footsteps of his father, Balutan took the PMA entrance exams and the rest is history.

“There is no greater glory and fulfillment than serving the country and saving the lives of the people. I am most passionate in touching lives. I do not belong to an affluent family. During my younger years, we have to work every day in the farm in order to support the needs of the family. I know how hard it is to live with less,” said Balutan.

As PCSO’s incumbent general manager, the former marine general prides his administration for the countless of lives by PCSO, local government units, non-government offices, and other civic organizations that were given ambulance and financial assistance in order to provide their constituents with better medical and charity services.

“When I was in the military, I always look forward to the day when people can walk anytime and anywhere without fear. Now that I am with PCSO, I look forward to the day when no one will succumb to death without being brought to the doctor or hospital due to lack of money. With PCSO, this will all come true,” he said.

In the future, Balutan sees himself as an “apostolate” looking after and playing with his grandchildren. But for now, he will do his job and follow orders from the President.

“I am serving in the pleasure of the President and like a good soldier, I will follow orders. So it’s up to the President where he will see me best to serve the Filipino people,” Balutan stressed.

“I want the Filipino nation to remember me as the incorruptible ‘Mandirigma’ who have touched the lives of many people.”

“As for my family, I want them to simply remember me as a ‘loving father’,” he concluded.

CAPTION:

PCSO General Manager Alexander Ferrer Balutan receives the Award for Continuing Excellence and Service (ACES) (second from the left) with his wife, Maria Angelina (second from the right). Also in photo are the officials from Metrobank Foundation.

ALEXANDER F BALUTAN General Manager

For clarifications, pls call Mr. Florante S. Solmerin, Deputy Spokesman for the Office of the General Manager-PCSO at 09274841800 / 099859347 59 or gm.pcsosimt@gmail.com

KORONADAL CITY, Aug. 7 -- The city government is pushing for the establishment of a new office that will manage the operations and development of its thriving economic enterprises.

City Mayor Peter Miguel said Monday the local government is currently drawing up mechanisms and necessary policies for the operationalization of the City Economic Enterprise and Development Office (CEEDO).

He said they are targeting to set up the new office before the projected completion in October of the city’s PHP150 million integrated public transport terminal project.

Aside from the terminal, he said it would manage the operations of the city public market, slaughter and public cemetery.

Miguel said the creation of the CEEDO is part of the local government’s efforts to improve its revenue generation initiatives.

The city government earlier launched a comprehensive study improve the operations and further develop its economic enterprises.

In line with the initiative, local government personnel conducted benchmarking activities earlier this month in the cities of Tagum in Davao del Norte and Digos in Davao del Sur.

They specifically looked into the policies and strategies implemented by the two local government units in line with the operations of their economic enterprises.

Miguel assured that he will appoint competent and experienced officials and personnel for the new office.

“We working on setting this in place soon as the new head and personnel will later lead the crafting of ordinances for the operations of our economic enterprises,” he said.

The construction of the city terminal project is currently ongoing in a 5.9-hectare site earlier acquired by the city government in Purok Yellow Bell, Barangay Sta. Cruz, is now about 70 percent complete.

The local government is also working on the development of a new public cemetery at the boundary of Barangays Mabini and Esperanza covering around four hectares.

It had laid out plans to establish a city hospital and a convention center that would require investments of around P400 million.(PNA)

LAOAG CITY, Aug. 7 — With the onset of rainy season, public school teachers both from elementary and secondary schools here are advised to have a flu shot.

Flu or influenza is an acute infection of the respiratory tract that is caused by any of the three types of influenza viruses (A, B, and C), each of which has several subtypes or strains.

Health care providers said flu viruses enter the mouth or nose by inhalation of droplets that are coughed, sneezed, or exhaled out by people with the disease; by direct contact with secretions from infected people; or by touching contaminated objects and then touching the nose or mouth with the hands.

Funded by the Department of Education under the Gender and Development program, the free vaccine is available this August, said Dr. Lloyd Rosquita on Monday.

Ilocos Norte Schools Division Superintendent Vilma Eda said it is very important that teachers are in good health to better serve their learners. (PNA)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Aug. 7 -- The Pangasinan provincial board passed a resolution in its regular session today, August 8 expressing its deepest sympathy and condolences to the bereaved family of a member of the Regional Public Safety Battalion 1 who died during a firefight with New People's Army (NPA) rebels in the outkirts of San Nicolas town last July 28.

The resolution authored by Fourth District Board Member Agerico Jeremy Rosario also honored the heroism of the dead policeman, PO2 Aries Tamondong, stating that "there is no better service than dying for your country and fighting against the enemy of the state in defense of its freedom and security."

Tamondong, 38, father of four, was from Barangay Cabanbanan, Manaoag, Pangasinan.

"The entire nation is saddened over the death of PO2 Aries Tamondong of the Philippine National Police in an encounter with rebel gunmen last July 28 in San Nicolas, Pangasinan with a mission," the resolution reads.

It went on to state that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan recognizes the valor of PO2 Aries Tamondong whom it called a "modern-day hero who had helped to bring peace and order in the province of Pangasinan."

The SP said PO2 Tamondong deserves the highest salute from all officials, leaders and people of Pangasinan.

A copy of the resolution will be handed by members of the SP led by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim to Tamondong's widow, Katrina, a school teacher of the Manaoag National High School and their four children. (PNA)

BAGUIO CITY, August 7 – The city human resource office is upgrading the employees' human relations skills in order to improve delivery of service to the public.

Atty. Augustin Laban III on Monday said they are continuously improving the human relations skills of all employees of the different departments in an effort to better serve the clients, the taxpayers.

He explained that aside from the scheduled trainings that they conduct, they constantly go around the offices to see how employees deal with the clients who come for assistance.

“This is a continuing activity. Aside from trainings, we need to see the actual service delivery, how the employees deal with the clients and if we see something improper, we immediately correct them.”

He added that it is very important for the public servants to deliver the correct service, proper action as well as properly deal with clients within the time required to satisfy the taxpayers. “We are in public service, we are mandated by law to deliver with satisfaction the services to the people.”

Aside from human relations skills, Laban said they saw the need to correct the way leaders beat during the flag raising ceremony.“The singing of the national anthem should not just be for compliance, it is a mandate that we as Filipinos should do properly,” thus the importance that the conductors do the beating properly when leading the singing of the national anthem, the hymn of the city government, the Cordillera hymn, and also the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) hymn, he said.

Laban said that they are also mulling on holding a conducting training for all employees so that whoever is asked to lead the singing during events will know how to properly do it. He said public offices are a matter of public trust and the public that seeks to be served must be properly provided with the assistance. (PNA)

ILOILO CITY — Local government officials on Sunday vowed to support grassroots sports programs in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s goal to shield the youth from illegal drugs.

“The city government supports the program of the President that through sports we stop illegal drugs in this part of the country,” Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III said in his welcome message during the opening of the Batang Pinoy Visayas leg at the Iloilo Sports Complex here.

“They (youth) are the future leaders of our community that we should protect and preserve,” he added as he welcomed 2,849 athletes from 71 local government units (LGUs).

Espinosa encouraged everyone to ensure that the Philippines “will be in good hands” by seeing to it that the future generations are free from influence of illegal drugs.

He thanked former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go for helping him to get an appointment with the President for his program “Utos ni President, Utos ni Mayor: No to Corruption, No to Criminality, No to illegal drugs”.

Go together with former Philippine National Police Director-General Ronald dela Rosa graced the opening ceremonies of the week-long sport event.

In a media interview, Go said the Batang Pinoy is a program of the government to protect children from the drug menace.

“This will be one of our priorities, sports development, especially for the grassroots,” Go said.

He said athletes should get the much-needed support and big incentives.

“They should be supported from the start up to their training, especially those with potentials," he said.

Go, a senatorial aspirant like dela Rosa, pointed out that the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) should be given additional budget.

Batang Pinoy is the PSC’s grassroots sports development program for children 15 years old and below with national winners bound to get opportunity to be part of the national pool.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., for his part, also expressed strong support of the provincial government to the PSC’s grassroots program.

Defensor is hoping the country’s first ever Olympic gold medalist will come from Batang Pinoy.

“The Philippines since it joined the Olympic Games has not won a gold medal. Maybe through the Batang Pinoy, they can discover athletes who can compete and win the coveted gold medal in the Olympics” he said.

The opening rite was also attended by PSC chairperson William Ramirez and Commissioners Charles Raymond Maxey, Arnold Agustin and Ramon Fernandez. (PNA)